Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel given half-game suspension

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel given half-game suspension

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel throws during NCAA college football practice in College Station, Texas.

Photo by
Associated Press
/Times Free Press.

HOUSTON - Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel has been suspended for the first half of the Aggies' season-opener against Rice on Saturday for what the school said was an "inadvertent" violation of NCAA rules by signing autographs.

The school issued a statement Wednesday saying it declared the Heisman Trophy winner ineligible and that the NCAA agreed to reinstate Manziel after he serves the half-game suspension.

Manziel was being investigated by the NCAA for allegedly accepting money from memorabilia brokers for signing autographs, which violates NCAA rules and could have compromised his eligibility.

According to the statement, Texas A&M and the NCAA "confirmed there is no evidence Manziel received money in exchange for autographs based on currently available information and statements by Manziel."